Playoff Preview: RSL at LA Galaxy

RSL to open Western Conference Semifinal at LA on Sunday

November 2, 2013

RSL Communications

RealSaltLake.com

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake (West #2) will begin its run in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night, taking on LA Galaxy (West #3) in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals at 7:00 p.m. MT at StubHub Center.

Sunday’s match will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and locally on ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM. ABC 4 will broadcast Real Sports Live – its hour-long Sunday night sports show – from StubHub Center following the match, with RSL’s commentary team of Bill Riley and Brian Dunseth hosting the show live from LA beginning at 10:35 p.m. MT.

Sunday’s match is the first of two legs in the Western Conference Semifinal series. Real Salt Lake will host the second leg at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday. The winner of the series will be determined by aggregate score. If the teams are tied on aggregate at the end of regulation in Thursday’s second leg, there will be two, 15-minute extra time periods. If the teams remain tied following extra time, the series will be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

In the 2013 MLS regular season, Real Salt Lake went 1-2-0 against LA. The Galaxy took the first match between the sides, scoring two early goals to beat RSL 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 27. The Claret-and-Cobalt took a measure of revenge in the second meeting, downing the Galaxy 3-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 8. RSL dropped the final meeting between the sides, falling victim to a hat trick from Galaxy FW Robbie Keane to lose 4-2 at LA on Aug. 17.

The 2013 Western Conference Semifinal series will mark the third all-time playoff meeting between Real Salt Lake and LA. RSL and LA have split their previous two playoff matchups, with the Claret-and-Cobalt beating Galaxy in penalties to take home MLS Cup 2009 before LA downed an injury-plagued RSL side 3-1 in the 2011 Western Conference Final.

Real Salt Lake is 10-11-6 against LA Galaxy in MLS regular season and playoff action, posting a 5-8-1 all-time road record at LA. Before Real Salt Lake’s 4-2 loss to LA Galaxy at StubHub Center on Aug. 17, the Claret-and-Cobalt had won five straight games at the StubHub Center (formerly known as the Home Depot Center). RSL had gone 5-0-0 (2-0-0 against LA; 3-0-0 against Chivas USA) at the Carson facility since the start of the 2012 MLS season. In its five-game win streak at StubHub Center, RSL outscored its opponents 16-3.

Real Salt Lake MF Javier Morales will look to continue his success against the Galaxy. The Argentine playmaker has five career goals and eight assists in 14 career regular season games against LA.

Real Salt Lake will host LA Galaxy in the decisive second leg of its Western Conference Semifinal on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL fans can purchase tickets to the second leg at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

How to Follow Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. MT at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes

English Radio: ESPN 700 AM (Pregame begins at 6:00 p.m. MT)

Spanish Radio: La Gran D 102.3 FM & Juan 1600 AM

Online: The @RealSaltLake Twitter Feed will provide live match updates

Real Salt Lake has an up-and-down history against LA, posting a 10-11-6 record against the Galaxy in MLS regular season and playoff action. RSL has had a good deal of success when playing at the Galaxy, posting a 5-8-2 record at LA in regular season and playoff action.